“THE DESERT SONG” COMING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18352, 24 August 1929, Page 13

“THE DESERT SONG” COMING.

J. C. WILLIAMSON’S LATEST MUSICAL SUCCESS.

J. C. Williamson's latest and greatest musical success “The Desert Song”, which created quite a furore in the Australian cities will come to New Zealand next month and will be staged at Timaru on November Bv9. This entrancing musical play come to New Zealand with the Australian cast of characters and with all the great stage accessaries. It is generally admitted that the cast of characters is one of the Wrongest ever assembled by the Firm /nd that the general presentation more than favourably with the big production in the capitals of the world. Mar> Bremner, the charming Australia girl who plays the leading feminize role of Margot Bonvalet has sabred a wonderful success in a character that calls for a good voice, charming personality, realistic acting and •general vivacity. All these attributes Marie Bremner possesses, and it is the concensus of opinion that she is one of the greatest musical and dramatic the Firm has ever presented to j6ie Australian and New Zealand public. Already she has scored outstanding success in various parts and her beautiful voice and dramatic ability were evidenced by her splendid performance in the title role of “Rose Marie.” That this clever and attractive young lady will receive a most cordial reception at the hands of New Zealand audiences is a surety.

As the “Red Shadow” in “The Desert Song,” Lance Fairfax has once again proved his ability and versatility. This part is one evidently to his liking, for it is said that he has never failed to please the critics and audiences. Special Interest will no doubt toe manifested in the re-appearance of this handsome young New Zealander from the fact that he has proved himself to be one of the most capable artists on the Australian stage to-day, who can claim the Dominion as his birthplace. New Zealanders are very proud of Lance Fairfax. His career reads like a romance; success has not turned the head of this accomplished singer and actor. His modesty is appreciated at its true worth, and there are many thousands in New Zealand

who predict that he will continue to advance in the profession in which he has already made such rapid strides. Another prominent number of “The Desert Song” company, who can claim INew Zealand as his birthplace, is Herbert Browne, whose beautiful tenor voice is heard to advantage in the prominent role of Sid El Kar. It may be said without exaggeration that Herbert Browne is one of the most popular members of J. C. Williamson’s companies who has visited these shores. His fine singing and effective acting as the lover in Oscar Ashe’s big production “Chu Chin Chow,” will be remembered with pleasure, while his fine work in “The Merry Widow” and “Wild Flower” is a sweet memory. In “The Student-Prince” he also added to his reputation and his vigorous singing as leader of the boisterous students was a feature of the performance. The principal comedian in “The Desert Song” will be Herbert Mundin, who plays the role of Benjamin Kidd, a society reporter. Mr. Mundin is a new-comer to New Zealand, and considerable Interest is being manifested in the appearance here for the first time of this famous London artist. Mr. Mundin comes to us not as a backnumber, but in his prime. He has been on the stage only nine years and eight of these he- spent in London, taking prominent roles in revues, pantomimes and vaudeville. In the United States he was a$ popular as In England, and some of the New York papers described his acting and facial expression as being something they had never heard or seen before.

New Zealand theatre-goers are anxiously awaiting the appearance in the Dominion of J. C. Williamson’s dramatic company, which is headed by Nat Madison in the thrilling dramas “No. 17” and “Dracula.” In each of these thrilling plays, Nat Madison appears in the leading roles which are full of character, rich in comedy, and most admirably suited to the genius of this popular young actor. He is supported by a particularly strong J. C. Williamson company which includes Bertha fticcardo (who played the leading role *4th Moscovltch in “The Silent House”), Ellis Irving, who was leading man with Margaret Bannerman, and such talented dramatic artists as Rutland Beckett. Campbell Copelin, Roger Barry, Arthur Cornell, Hedbert Millard, and Helga Rolunde.

John Fernside, who plays prominent roles in the J. C. Williamson comedy company, now appearing in N f.s Zealand in “Apple Sauce,” “Laugh That Off” and "Pigs,” should never have gone on the stage. At least, that is what he say 3. When young he had aspirations. but years on huge cattlestations are not calculated to fit In for the stage nor for a dignified ontrance into the managerial office. When Mr E. J. Tait first saw John Fomcida, the latter was not what might be termed a sartorial sob. “You’re not an actor," said Mr Tait. “you're a bushranger.” But he gave John Fernside his chance lust the *>ame.

\Vhat an infinite variety of attractions the great J. C. Williamson musical play, possesses! The Red Shadow, mystic, romantic! Margot Bonvalet, beautiful, enamoured of the desert, desirable! Clementina, languorous, Spanish spiced with the devil! Azuri, beguiling, lissom! Susan, sprightly, English eccentric! Benjamin Kidd, talkative, informative! Resplendent officers, wives even more resplendent, beautiful slave girls and Spanish lovliness in abundance! A Moorish courtyard, dripping with flowers, a harem! Add to these an entrancing romantic plot, beautiful scenery, wonderful stage settings, dancing of the best and New Zealand theatre-goers will get but a faint idea of the many beautiful attractions in this latest and greatest of J. C. Williamson’s musical successes, “The Desert Song.” The play will be presented in Timaru on November 8 and 9.

Alan Bunce, the famous American comedian, who plays principal roles in the J. C. Williamson comedies “Apple Sauce,” “Laugh That Off” and “Pigs,” which will be presented in this district very shortly, comes to the Dominion with the highest of reputations. He has played in some of the greatest comedy successes ever staged in the United States and he is generally recognised as one of the popular artists in that country. His capabilities as an actor are such that he has been offered principal roles varying from farcical comedy to drama. With Miss Ruth Nugent and supported by one of the best comedy companies ever sent across the Tasman by the Firm, the presentations in the Dominion of these three quick-fire comedies, should be one of the outstanding successes of the year.

It has been truly said that an artist without ambition, is like a ship without a rudder. His or her course is uncertain, for the obvious reason that there is no definite object in view. Marie Bremner, who plays the leading feminine role in the great J. C. Williamson musical production, “The Desert Song,” is full of ambition. This talented young singer and actress, with a vision of the poet, is already looking to the great world beyond the southern seas for the realisation of her life’s dream. “I want to travel,” she said in a recent interview, ‘T want to see strange lands and new people. I want to see and hear all the great artistes in the musical, operatic and dramatic world. Australia I love with an affection as sincere as it will be lasting for is it not my birthplace But I do want to see the greater world that lies beyond, and if I give of my very best as I am honestly striving to do and the fates are kind to me, who knows but that someday my girlish dreams will be realised.”

Ruth Nugent, leading lady of the new J. C. Williamson company, now appearing in New Zealand in the three highly amusing comedies, “Apple Sauce,” “Laugh That Off,” and “Pigs,” is described by a New York paper as one of the most talented and popular artistes in that big city. She is a daughter of J. C. Nugent and a sister of Elliott Nugent, the authors of that famous play “Kempy” which was presented in New Zealand by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Recently in New York, Miss Nugent scored a wonderful success in “The Family Upstairs” in which she took the prominent role of Liline. She played Tony in “The Constant Nymph” when Beatrice Thompson, the London actress, presented this play with great success.

Herbert Mundin, the principal comedian in “The Desert Song,” has probably played before royalty more frequently than any other musical comedy artist who has reached these shores. The latest production which was a “command” performance in which he appeared before royalty was "Lady Mary” produced at Daly’s Theatre, London. Mr Mundin has met the Prince of Wales on several occasions, and speaks most enthusiastically of the great interest taken by the Prince in all matters pertaining to the stage and those employed thereon. “The heir to the throne,” says Mr Mundin, “is one of the most popular members of the Royal Family. He has wonder-

ful sympathy and understanding and whenever he appears in public, is greeted with cheers as loud as they are genuine. He loves to talk of the many pleasant days he spent amongst the people who live under the Southern Cross.”

Three of the biggest and merriest comedies ever brought to New Zealand by the enterprising firm of J. C. Williamson, which will be presented by the new comedy company, headed by Alan Bunce and Ruth Nugent, are “Apple Sauce,” “Laugh That Off,” and “Pigs.” The first-named is of a type which never fails to appeal to popular taste, as the aim of the hero of the play, Bill Macalister, is to make everybody happy, and as the other characters are of a particularly lively description, small wonder is it that the comedy goes with a rush from start to finish. Bill simply lives by his wits; he will not \york, and endeavours to find a substitute in “Apple Sauce” which is really flattering the vanity of people. But Bill is a most convincing individual, few can resist his blandishments, and resent vanishes like mists before the sun as Bill launches forth into his most extravagant commendations. “Laugh That Off” is full of boisterous humour and “Pigs” is an appealing comedy which rivals “The Patsy” in its popularity.

The brilliant eighteenth century comedies, “The School for Scandal,” and "The Rivals,” to be presented by the Allan Wilkie Company at Timaru on the evening of September 2nd and the afternoon of September 3rd, respectively are the works of one of the most remarkable literary men who ever lived, Richard Brinsley Sheridan. At the close of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries, Sheridan was one of the most conspicuous figures in England. The most successful dramatist of his day, among the first of Parliamentary orators, one of the last surviving members of the Literary Club, to which he was elected on the nomination of the immortal Dr Johnson, the most brilliant of conversationalists, the trusted friend of the Prince of Wales, the ally of Fox, the associate of Burke, the successor of Garick in the management of Drury Lane Theatre, he filled the public eye as did scarely any man of his epoch. As a writer of plays, he Is still held to rank in popularity second only to Shakespeare. The fact that the abovementioned comedies have endured in popularity for 150 years is sufficient proof of the genius of Sheridan.